As he elsewhere calls Lot his 'brother,' this statement that Sarah was his 'sister' doe's not in terfere with the probability that she was his niece.
(6) Isaac Born. The same year Sarah gave birth to the long promised son (Gen. xxi :2). It is, however, supposed by some biblical critics that the preceding adventure with Abimelech is related out of its order, and took place at an earlier date. Their chief reason is that Sarah was now 90 years of age. But the very few years by which such a supposition might reduce this age seems scarcely worth the discussion. (See SARAH.) (7) The Banishment of Hagar and Ishmael. According to previous direction, the name of Isaac was given to him (see IsAAc), (Gen. xvii :19; xxi :3). This greatly altered the position of Ishmael, who had hitherto appeared as the heir both of the temporal and the spiritual heritage ; whereas he had now to share the former, and could not but know that the latter was limited to Isaac. This appears to have created much ill-feeling both on his part and that of his mother towards the child ; which was in some way manifested so pointedly, on occasion of the festivities which attended the weaning, that the wrath of Sarah was awakened, and she insisted that both Hagar and her son should be sent away (Gen. xxi :8-t t). This was a very hard matter to a loving father ; and Abra ham was so much pained that he would probably have refused compliance with Sarah's wish, had he not been told by the Lord that it was in ac cordance with the Divine intentions respecting both Ishmael and Isaac. With his habitual un compromising obedience, he then hastened them away early in the morning, with provision for the journey (Gen. xxi:r2-14). Their adventures be long to the article HAGAR.
5. Ghe Fourth Period.
(1) Abraham's Great Trial. When Isaac was about 20 years old it pleased God to subject the faith of Abraham to a severer trial than it had yet sustained, or than has ever fallen to the lot of any other mortal man. He was commanded to go into the mountainous country of Moriah (probably where the temple afterwards stood), and there offer up in sacrifice the son of his affection, and the heir of so many hopes and promises, which his death must nullify (Gen. xxii:1, 2). It is probable that human sacrifices already existed ; and . as, when they did exist, the offering of an only or beloved child was considered the most meritorious, it may have seemed reasonable to Abraham that he should not withhold from his own God the costly sacrifice which the heathen offered to their idols. The trial
and neculiar difficulty lav in the singular position of Isaac, and in the unlikelihood that his loss could be supplied. But Abraham's 'faith shrunk not, assured that what God had promised he would certainly perform, and that he was able to re store Isaac to him even from the dead' (Heb. xi : 17-19), and he rendered a ready, however paintui, obedience. Assisted by two of his servants, he prepared wood suitable for the purpose, and with out delay set out upon his melancholy journey. On the third day he descried the appointed place. and informing his attendants that he and his son would go some distance farther to worship, and then return, he proceeded to the spot (Gen. xxii: 3-6). To the touching question of his son respect ing the victim to be offered, the patriarch re plied by expressing his faith that God himselt would provide the sacrifice, and probably he availed himself of this opportunity of acquainting him with the Divine command (Gen. xxii :7, 8). At least, that the communication was made either then or just after is unquestionable; for no one can suppose that a young man of 20 could, against his will, have been bound with cords and laid out as a victim on the wood of the altar. Isaac would most certainly have been slain by his father's uplifted hand, had not the angel of Jehovah interposed at the critical mo ment to arrest the fatal stroke. A ram which had become entangled in a thicket was seized and offered, and a name was given to the place Jehoz'ah-Jirch—'the Lord will provide,' commemo rating the believing answer which Abraham had given to hit son's inquiry respecting the victim (Gen. xxii :9-14). The promises before made to Abraham—of numerous descendants, superior in power to their enemies, and of the blessings which his spiritual progeny, and especially the Messiah, were to extend to all mankind—were again con firmed in the most solemn manner, for Jehovah swore by himself (Comp. Heb. vi :13-17) that such should be the rewards of his uncompromising obedience. The father and son then rejoined their servants, and returned rejoicing to Beersheba (Gen. xxii ts-i9).